Buste van Helena 1646 - 1670

This is Hubert Quellinus’s engraving, “Buste van Helena.” Quellinus made this print sometime during the 17th century, a period shaped by powerful monarchies, religious conflicts, and the rise of the Dutch Republic. Here, Quellinus reinterprets the classical figure of Helena. In ancient Greek legend, Helena's abduction sparked the Trojan War, a narrative laden with themes of beauty, conflict, and the power of female agency, however controversially framed. Quellinus was part of an artistic family deeply involved in the cultural life of Antwerp, which was a hub for the artistic and intellectual exchanges of the era. "Buste van Helena" reflects the period's fascination with classical antiquity, but also its complex negotiation of gender roles and the narratives of female figures. The artwork invites us to consider how stories of women are retold and reinterpreted across time, reflecting the values and biases of different eras. It’s a reminder that history—and how we represent it—is always a work in progress.